Talbournes, Annen understood that he was the leader then, only wolf capable of making reasonable decision. He was filled with anger too. In fact thing he wanted to do was to lose his temper, unleash all powers he had and die in that fight, biting throats of foes. That was a honourable end for a warrior… and proper vengeance for those who died.

He knew they lost – Glemt was dead, Fort was dead. Vis, still fighting along him was bleeding from wounds much to serious to cure them. They somehow managed to kill three of enemies, but ratio of combatants was even more unfavourable. Eight enraged, but still ordinary wolves against twelve professional soldiers. After Talbournes breached the shore, there was no real advantage of position on Beeches side. Further fight meant death. Annen wanted it, but he had no right to do such decision.

That why, seeing that enemies were slowly withdrawing to river, he ordered Venn and others not to pursue. He just ran to one of scouts, wrestling with Tro and rammed him, throwing away. Enemy didn’t repeat his attack, just followed Lightning’s signal to retreat. Then Annen called.

“Beech Pack! Stop!” and his packmates stopped.

Talbournes crossed river in hurry then surrounded half-stunned alpha and junior scout Yuppal, who had broken paw. Master scout was looking on creek, baring his teethes, but silently praying that enemies wouldn’t pursue. He saw how close Aleu was to death and he would do almost anything to cease that risky battle.

Talbourne alpha opened her eyes and cried with fear.

“Dad!”

“They took him ashore.” Replied Lightning. “He is alive.”

“So… ow, my God!” she yelled, seeing motionless body of Mark on the other side. “Get him back…”

“Ma’am…” said scout Iamak with soft voice. “He is dead.”

“Dead…” repeated alpha, as if it then came to her that her expedition could claim some lives of her soldiers. “And where is…”

“Wemer and Gerth are down too.” Added wolf. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“He apologises me?” thought Aleu. “It’s my fault from very start!” She made final decision. “We won’t continue that fight, it already cost us dear. Let’s go back to the mountains. There we will rest and sent some messenger to Nome.”

“Yes ma’am!” sighed Lightning with relief. Old, reasonable alpha was back. Aleu didn’t want to do anything stupid and emotional. “Unit, form in ranks!”

But then he noticed a move on the other side of river. Enemy alpha stood up and looked with hatred on them. She howled in angry way and called.

“YOU!” she growled in spite of crying. “You will pay for that.” Aleu raised her ears in angry gesture. She was furious about her three underlings. But Lightning calmed her with decisive stare. There was no time for taunting enemy. And no point at all.

“You!” repeated Tro. “I swear on fire, earth, wind and water that you will pay! I will kill every single Talbourne I see. And then kill you!” Then next to her stopped Elske. She was bleeding from numerous wounds and her old scars then looked to be new ones. But she was just scratched, ready to avenge her losses.

“Your father killed Glemt!” she hissed. “You could be sure, we won’t let it go. We will kill Balto, for what he has done to Trinea and her children. For what he today did to Glemt. Those murders will be punished!”

“Ma’am…” whispered Anned to Elske’s ear. “Stop it. We won’t do it today. Let’s go… Vis needs rest…” then he added in mind. “Or at least a calm place to die.”

Scarred wolfess looked on Tro. When alpha nodded her head, they both turned back to pack and gave orders to withdraw. Lightning, watching it from the other bank sighed with relief.

“But we will be back.” Cried Tro, walking away into forest.

“Ignore them, Aleu.” Said master scout. “Just get the hell away from here.”

Alpha stopped uncertain, but Lightning pushed her gently. She set off once again, trying not to turn back and see body of her guardian. Then she started to run, as if she was trying to outrun those vision. “It all came in wrong way!” she sobbed in mind. “I only wanted to save daddy… I didn’t mean to endanger them… How could I tell it to Mary?”

Mary was Wemer’s mate and mother to their four pups. Five more victims of that pointless small war. “Have Mark and Gerth any families?” asked herself Aleu. “I have to check it when I will be back. Just to…” But then she understood that there was no point of checking that. All her apologies wouldn’t raise a dead. Her guardians would be dead in the same degree, doesn’t matter how many tears she spilled over them.

“Mom… Dad… They will tell me what to do.” She thought and ordered aloud. “Stop here. I have to go to Nome.”

Whole unit looked on Lightning, but master scout nodded his head with approval.

“I hope you will be back soon.” Said greyfurred.

*

Kodi and Balto reached beach soon after, when firsts rays of sun shone reddish on snow. Wolfdog ran to Jenna and they nuzzled for a long while, without saying a word. It gave time for a crowd to surround saved one. Then dogs started to look on Balto, then on Drake, then on Kodi. A question arouse in the air.

“Bro…” whispered Saba. “I do not know what to think… Glemt.”

“He is dead.” Replied Kodi with tensed voice. He came closer to sister and whispered to her ear. “Saba, we have to forget about that happened here. It will be better for us all.”

“But he was our…”

“No.” replied sled leader. “He was just a mad dog who believed it.”

Saba turned her stare down, trying to answer herself. But her heart was silent, giving no answer. “Is that real… oh, Glemt… you are dead. But you were… I no longer know in what I could believe. And in whom.”

“Dogs of Nome…” said Drake with uncertain voice. All looked on him. “I see that case is closed. Glemt, who laid a charge against Balto is dead. I see no reason to continue that investigation…” Some naughty voice added in his mind. “Except that could be true and my friend is murderer.” But continued. “If no one want uphold Glemt’s charge, I propose to leave it and go back home. Any objections?”

Saba barely repressed he cry. “That’s all?” she wanted to shout. “He is dead and you have just that to say?” But she knew that saying anything could be very troubling for her father. “But how I could forget? I… I… I don’t know what I felt, but it was something I can’t just throw away.”

“Wait a sec…” called someone from crowd, but in next second he fell silent. Whatever he wanted to say, he gave up, letting it be. Gathering started to disperse.

“Let’s go home, Balto.” Said Jenna. Wolfdog was still shocked, but he instinctively followed his mate. The same did most of dogs there – set off to Nome. As one of last stayed Saba, still uncertain what to do. But life had to go on and she understood than asking any more question would cause pain instead of relief. So she waited as last creature leave the shore of Dorothy’s Backwater. Then she came to shore and stopped with front paws in water. Again she took a look around and when she made sure no one saw her, she bended down to ice.

Glemt was somewhere there – resting under frozen layer. Then – silent and lifeless, freed from mortal coil and its troubles. Saba had no chance to see him through ice, but she just felt as stream of river dragged dog neared to the shore. She turned her head where she expected to find dead one and touched with lips cold layer of ice.

“I love you… brother.” She whispered. “But you must forgive me – from now on I have to forget you.” Ice didn’t respond, but she hoped it was agreeing silence. Glemt would had understood.

She stood up and turned back to Nome direction. New day raised and shades of night slowly dissolved in morning air.

*

Balto was guided to Luke’s hangar and laid down to sleep by Jenna. She also laid down herself next to, warming hybrid up. Balto somehow recalled he had fallen into water and he was wet. So he murmured with gratitude to caring him mate.

“You have to sleep, Balto.” Said redfurred. “Sleep and soon you will learn that was just a bad dream.”

“Did you…”

“No, Balto.” She replied before he finished. “I never believed in that madness. I know you never lied to me.”

“I was constant to you.” Confirmed wolfdog. “That poor boy had to be mistaken… But he is dead and…”

“That was not your fault.” Interrupted him Jenna. “It was he, who started that madness, kidnapped you and almost killed you. How you possibly could blame yourself for how he ended?”

“He called me <father> even in that last moment.” Sighed hybrid. “I do not understand it… but he really believed.”

“You didn’t kill Trinea. That’s all what I know.” Said redfurred. “So this all was pointless. I’m sorry for Kodi. You know… after that time…”

“No, do not blame him for that.” Replied Balto. “He… had his reasons. But I hope we will all forget about that case.”

“Forget.” Smiled Jenna. “That’s was I expect. So now just sleep, and that bad dream will disperse soon.” She cuddled to her mate.

Then to hanger came Aleu. Wolfess quietly entered building and stopped, seeing her father asleep. Jenna nodded her head, inviting her closer but also asking her to remain silent. Redfurred stood up and went to daughter.

“He is all right.” She said quietly. “Very tired and still shocked.” Following a uncertain stare of Aleu, she added. “Bruised a bit but those are just scratches.” Talbourne’s alpha nodded her head.

“That dog… Glemt… is he dead?” she asked carefully.

“Yes.” Replied Jenna. “And that’s good. Poor guy, but he was mad.”

“Mom…” started Aleu with calm voice, but then she broke into sobbing. “I lost three wolves today… just because they were protecting father… Mom… I had no right…”

“Calm down, my child.” Said Jenna. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Redfurred actually had no idea what had happened on northern bank of backwater, but she knew that understanding situation wasn’t the point of that talk. She went with Aleu to other side of hangar, beware not